Barton Family Correspondence

William Henry Barton (known as Henry) was born on April 5, 1826 in
Moriah, New York, the son of William A. and Electa (Taylor) Barton. By
1860 he had married Abiah Elliott. He enlisted in the 5th New York
Cavalry, Company H on December 14, 1863 and was discharged in July,
1865. He fought in the Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Spottsylvania
Court House, and Ashland Station.

His brother, Hiram Horatio Barton, was born on August 20, 1836 in Moriah,
New York. He enlisted in Company C, 96th New York State Volunteers. He
fought in the Battle of Fair Oaks, the Battle of Kinston and at the
Seige of Petersburg, where he was wounded. He was also at Fort Harrison.
He was discharged on January 11, 1865. He married Jennie Abbie Johnson
on September 5, 1869 in Bridport, Vermont. He died at there of cerebral
abcess on April 6, 1903, and was buried in the Bridport Village
cemetery.

Lyman Barton was born on April 29, 1839 in Moriah, New York, He enlisted
on July 7, 1862 in Winsted, Connecticut in Company K, 8th Connecticut
Infantry Regiment. He fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Petersburg,
and Fort Harrison. He was discharged on June 6, 1865. He died in Crown
Point, New York on August 14, 1936.

Theodore Taylor Barton was born on September 15, 1842 in Crown Point, New
York and enlisted on May 1, 1861 in Company H, 34th New York State
Volunteers. He was in the Battle of Fair Oaks, Antietam, and
Chancellorsville. He was discharged on June 30, 1863, but returned to
Washington, D.C. as a teamster and later reenlisted in the Veteran
Volunteers. He was discharged in February, 1866. In 1867, he married
Augusta Wooster Barton, the widow of his older brother James Bradshaw
Barton, who was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness. Theodore moved
to Lansing, Michigan and died there on January 2, 1928.

Civil War letters written by four brothers, William, Hiram, Lyman, and
Theodore. Many of the letters were written to their sister Mary Melissa
Barton while she was living at Larabee's Point in Shoreham and the rest
of the letters were written to each other. They were all in different
units in Virginia and North Carolina. They write of camp life, troop
movements, and descriptions of the country side. They also, at times,
graphically describe the aftermath of battles. There is a description of
the fiasco at the Crater. There is also a patriotic poem by William
Izzard.

Hiram Barton writes a detailed description of a misunderstanding between the 96th New York Regiment and a cavalry company that they were to rendezvous with. The two forces exchanged fire but no one was injured. He then describes his unit’s participation in a pincer movement against Williamston, North Carolina, in which his unit was supposed to engage the enemy from the front while the 101st and 103rd Pennsylvania Regiments were to attack from the rear.

Writing from Stanley General Hospital in New Bern, N.C. to his brother Lyman, Hiram Barton writes of all the rumors surrounding the Siege of Little Washington (Battle of Washington, March 30-April 18, 1863), including the supposed death of General Francis B. Spinola. He also writes of the arrival of a Lieutenant sent by General John G. Foster to New Bern to ask for reinforcements. As well, he writes of Rebel scouts that are in the area.

Topics include the news that he is in the hospital at New Bern, North Carolina, but he is getting better. He also discusses the lateness of the pay and his attempts to stay out of debt, a description of the city, war profiteers, and his opinion of the celebration of Washington’s birthday and how that general might view the war.

A poem titled “The Campaign with McClellan 1862” by William Issard, a private in the 101st Pennsylvania Infantry, copied by Hiram Barton. The poem focuses on Wessell’s Division during the Seven Days Battles, and mentions the 101st and 103rd Pennsylvania Regiments and the 85th, 92nd, and 96th New York Regiments.

Writing from Camp Gray in Plymouth, North Carolina Barton speaks of white and black North Carolinians coming in to Union lines to join the Union Army, of the brogue they speak, of the sights he has seen in battle, his dislike of army life, particularly the killing. Writes of rumors about Vicksburg and what it would mean for the Union cause if it is taken.

Hiram Barton writes of an attack on the Union works by a Confederate Brigade at the Seige of Petersburg on June 24th. He also writes of the danger of raising one’s head above the breast works during the day, and of the soldiers killed. As well he writes of the heat and how exhausted the men are after spending two or three days in the trenchs.

Lyman Barton describes a turntable built for a Confederate railway gun which was captured before it was operational. He also writes of an attack of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry led by Colonel Spear near Hanover Court House, during which General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee was captured.

Lyman Barton writes of his Regiment’s march from White House to near Hanover Junction and back, and then on to a camp near Portsmouth, Virginia. He then writes of his military unit being renumbered (from 9 A C to the 7 A C now 2nd Brigade 2nd Division 7 A C), of news from home, that his two other brothers, James and Henry were drafted, and continues with his views on how the war is progressing.

Lyman Barton writes a detailed description of the capture of the Confederate battery at Hill’s Point on May 19, 1863, when his company and six others from the 8th Connecticut Infantry Regiment and eight companies of the 89th New York Infantry Regiment boarded the U.S.S. Stepping Stones and traveled up the Nansemond River to assault the rifle pits and fort.

Lyman Barton writes of the events surrounding the Battle of Port Waltham Junction on May 6 and 7. He also lists some of the wounded and killed, including his brother, James Barton, who died of wounds received at the Battle of the Wilderness.

Lyman Barton mentions an attack on his Brigade at Deep Creek, Virginia and the death of two men from the 9th New Jersey Regiment who had just returned from a furlough. He also writes of men returning to the 8th Connecticut Regiment after their reenlistment furlough, who had second thoughts about reenlisting. Also he writes of how many got married while on leave. At the end of the letter he gives news of his brothers Henry, James and Theodore and their addresses.

Lyman Barton writes of his travels from Fredericksburg to Newport News via a steamer, and then on to Suffolk. While at Newport News he saw a monitor and the U.S.S. Galena, as well as the wrecks of the U.S.S. Merrimack (C.S.S. Virginia) and the U.S.S. Cumberland and U.S.S. Congress. He also comments on the lack of alcohol available to the troops and that while he is not a drinker, he is “as bad can be” and that it is “hard spoiling a rotten egg.”

Lyman Barton writes of his return to his regiment after spending time at home on sick leave. He also writes of two men being shot for desertion from his regiment, one from his own company. Both men were drafted and he tells the story of the wife of one man coming to camp after his execution, of her being told the news of his death by the company cook, of Portsmouth newspaper reports on Gen Grant and Gen Meade's capture of Rebel prisoners, of comfortable tent to live in with stove.

Lyman writes about wishing to receive more letters from his sister, as he is lonely in camp, even though it sounds like he is enjoying himself. He points out the battles printed on the bottom of the writing paper he is using, saying that he was in the last four of them. The letter continues with a detailed description of the movements of his Brigade. He also mentions “confiscating” a beef, writing that soldiers don’t steal, only confiscate and the only difficulty was getting the beef into the camp.

Lyman Barton comments on the Second Battle of Petersburg on June 15 to 18, writing that though they were almost successful in taking Petersburg, the arrival of General Hancock slowed the assault until the defenses were fortified. He also writes of his sister mistaking shoulder scales, worn by privates, for an officer’s badge in a photograph she received, mentioning that the Colored Troops wore these shoulder scales but discarded them when in the field. He gives only a passing mention to the Battle of Cold Harbor.

Lyman Barton writes of how disgusted he is with the outcome of the Battle of the Crater (i.e. Battle of Petersburg Cater, Va.) ,and how he feels it was the “shamefullest thing that I have seen or herd of since I have been out” blaming generals of jealousy of one another resulting in great loss of men. He also writes of having been in 12 or 13 battles and not gotten hurt yet plus gives news of two of his brothers, Henry and Hiram, who are both in the hospital.

Lyman Barton writes of returning to his regiment, even though he was due more sick leave. He also comments on men from Moriah and Crown Point who have not enlisted and those who have. As well he mentions gossip from home and teases his sister about her Vermont suitor. Finally, he includes a memoranda of his activities from January 1 to January 15, including detailing the food he eats daily and the games played by the 15th Connecticut Regiment on New Year’s Day.

Theodore Lyman writes of seeing his brother Lyman, Company K, 8th Connecticut Infantry Regiment, who is camped only two miles away. He also writes of the attempt by General Burnside to cross the Rappahannock and how the Confederate soldiers jeered and set up a sign saying “Burnside stuck in the mud.”

Theodore Barton writes that there is a foot of snow but it is melting fast. He also writes of his pleasure at the news of the draft, as he would be happy to see some of those who stayed behind and to give them the same encouragement they gave to him about how easy it would be to “whip” the South. He also mentions that there is not much drinking of alcohol going on.

Topics include the journey from Harrison's Landing to Boliver via Newport News and Alexandria. Names several wounded and deceased soldiers, perhaps known by his sister. Concludes with a somewhat gruesome description of "picnic."

William Henry Barton (known as Henry) writes of his hope that several specific people in Crown Point would be drafted, though he suspects that one of them, Americus Spaulding, will fake palpitations of the heart to avoid the draft. He also wishes that anyone voting “secesh” would be drafted. As well, he writes of the cold weather and of the visit to Winchester of Elisha Haskell’s wife, who didn’t “like see so many nigers.”